***** (5 stars)
Excellent service and friendly people.
Creed’s Firewood
3416 S Goldenrod Rd
Orlando, FL 32822
Memories of Peru Pollos a la Brasa
***** (5 stars)
This is my favorite Peruvian restaurant in Orlando. Everything is very authentic. They have the best ceviche I've had anywhere but Lima. The causas are also excellent.
As of this writing if you check in on Yelp they offer a free Chicha Morada, a delicious fruity non-alcoholic drink (based on purple corn, interestingly) with a touch of cinnamon and clove.
The pisco sours are also excellent.
Memories of Peru Pollos a la Brasa
5700 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
https://www.yelp.com/biz/memories-of-peru-pollos-a-la-brasa-orlando-11
Miller’s Ale House
*** (3 stars)
Pros:
Lots of TVs for sports.
Cheap beer and drinks.
Cons:
Mediocre, high calorie food, with nothing to distinguish it from every other sports bar.
Miller’s Ale House
12371 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Orlando, FL 32836
https://www.yelp.com/biz/millers-ale-house-lake-buena-vista-orlando
Friendly Confines Metro West
**** (4 stars)
This is an excellent sports bar, with lots of screens, and a very extensive menu. There's pretty much and sports bar food you can think of. My burger was exactly the way I like it, and my companions Cobb salad and chicken ginger baskets both looked good. Service was prompt and friendly, as the name suggests.
Friendly Confines Metro West
2461 S Hiawassee Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
https://www.yelp.com/biz/friendly-confines-metro-west-orlando
Miller’s Ale House – Lake Buena Vista
*** (3 stars)
Pros:
Lots of TVs for sports.
Cheap beer and drinks.
Cons:
Mediocre, high calorie food, with nothing to distinguish it from every other sports bar.
Miller’s Ale House – Lake Buena Vista
12371 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Orlando, FL 32836
https://www.yelp.com/biz/millers-ale-house-lake-buena-vista-orlando
P.F. Chang’s
**** (4 stars)
I love the decor of all PF Chang's, and this is one of my favorites. It's themed, yet tasteful, dramatic yet not distracting.
It had been a few years since I'd been to this location so I thought I'd check it out. The menu is largely unchanged, which is not a bad thing; when you're doing something well, keep doing it.
We started with the shrimp dim sum, sauteed and served still sizzling on a hot metal platter. They were excellent, especially with the sauce, which was thoughtfully served on the side to keep the potstickers crisp.
We always have to have the Northern Style Short Ribs. They're generously meaty ribs with a Chinese five-spice rub. I missed the ramekin of sweet and salty spices they used to be served with, but they're still great.
The orange chicken was a generous serving for the lunch size, but the orange sauce had turned the chicken's coating a bit mushy. I would order this sauce on the side next time.
A special was the Short Rib Fried Rice. I think it was the best thing I've ever had a PF Chang's! In addition to the beef, there were mushrooms, kimchee, edamame, and a wonderful wasabi cream sauce. I had to force myself to stop eating this!
Service was friendly and speedy.
P.F. Chang’s
4200 Conroy Rd
Orlando, FL 32839
T-Rex Cafe
**** (4 stars)
This place is an excellent choice for a meal that will entertain the kids and provide credible food for the adults. The decor is a step beyond Rainforest Cafe-level (although the animation of the dinosaurs is not going to challenge Disney). The menu is typical sports bar plus some larger plates, and the service is good. It's large and fairly noisy, but so are dinosaurs.
T-Rex Cafe
1676 E Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
An’Nam
**** (4 stars)
Can't decide between Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food? You don't need to, here! Four pages of densely printed menu pretty much cover everything. It's not actually "fusion" since the cuisines aren't being combined in new ways, but they are all represented, and are done well, and with fresh ingredients. The dining area is bright and cheery, and the service is friendly.
An’Nam
234 W 48th St
New York, NY 10036
Gallaghers Steakhouse
***** (5 stars)
It's delightful to visit a traditional steakhouse that isn't part of a chain, and that maintains the aura and service that was a fixture of grand steakhouses before they became ubiquitous franchises.
Everything about Gallagher's is what I'm looking for, from the cozy booths to the subdued lighting, the sparkling central bar, and the professional yet friendly service.
We went after theater, and although the place was hopping, currently curtailed hours meant the kitchen was closing, so we limited our experience to a spectacular chilled seafood platter, some carpaccio, and some wonderfully crisp fries. Everything was terrific.
Prices are reasonable for NYC, and it was appreciated that there was a selection of half bottles of wine so we could each have our favorite.
We'll definitely make this a regular stop during visits to the theater.
Gallaghers Steakhouse
228 W 52nd St
New York, NY 10019
Playwright Celtic Pub
*** (3 stars)
Solid food and service in a shotgun pub with a traditional design. The messy burger is a popular choice, and would indeed have been messy–or perhaps impossible–to eat if I hadn't taken a knife and fork to it. Great service from the solitary server handling the whole place.
Playwright Celtic Pub
732 8th Ave
New York, NY 10036